Chapter One Hundred
There was, of course, a good deal of communication between the Darcys, the Bingleys, the Bennets, the Fitzwilliams, and Anne de Bourgh before the much anticipated midsummer reunion.
Elizabeth had long wondered, with some concern, as to how Jane would manage Miss Bingley, or Caroline, as she was now to be called.
The very thick letter she received at Pemberley shortly after she and Mr. Darcy returned after their sojourn in London, made her laugh out loud at the breakfast table.
She read it aloud to her husband and Georgiana, both of whom were already smiling in anticipation.
Dearest Lizzy,
I do not doubt you have imagined all sorts of scenes here at Netherfield when picturing me learning to get along with Caroline! So let me put your imagination to rest to tell you how it went. You must sit down, as this will be quite a long letter.
I was determined, of course, to take my position as mistress of Netherfield Park immediately upon our return from Brighton. I spoke of this to Charles, and he assured me that he would back me no matter what.
I began by informing Cook that we would be observing country hours henceforth, and that I wished dinner served at five in the evening, rather than seven.
She agreed at once, of course. When I informed the rest of the household of this change, of course Caroline had to disagree at once, saying, “This seems quite unnecessary to me. In society, we would not dream of dining so very early!”
I replied, “I understand that. But we are not in society; we are in the country. And even five is a good deal later than when most families in the area enjoy their evening meal. At Lucas Lodge, the evening meal is served at three in the afternoon.”
Charles agreed, saying that we must accustom ourselves to country life if we are to live in the country.
And then he added that those who do not wish to live in the county were free to move elsewhere!
I held my breath, hoping that Caroline would offer at once to re move herself to Town! But alas, she did not.
Then I announced that I wished to discuss what responsibilities Caroline and Louisa would take on for the tenants.
Louisa said that she would be happy to continue visiting the tenants to see what was needed, but once again, Caroline objected, saying, “Is that not your responsibility, as mistress of the estate, Jane?”
I explained that it was my responsibility to see that those duties are performed, not necessarily to perform them all myself. If Louisa was to perform the tenant visits, then I needed Carolien to assist me with the necessary plain sewing for them.
She stared at me as if she had never heard such words before, and repeated, “Plain sewing?”
I said, “Yes; the making of everyday garments. The tenants do not need fancy work such as embroidery. They need work shirts, work trousers, aprons, and so on.”
“I will not do it,” she said. And she folded her arms across her chest and stuck out her chin, exactly the way Lydia does when she is being stubborn!
Everyone at the table was silent and looking at me to see how I would respond.
Then I remembered you saying that I should pretend that I was you instead of me, and then I felt very bold indeed, for I said, “Then I suppose you do not belong on an estate, Caroline. For living off the income provided by the tenants comes with responsibilities, and if you are not willing to shoulder them, you should very likely be living in Town.”
Not at all understanding me, Miss Bingley threw her hands up in the air and said, “This is what I have been saying all along! We do not belong in the country; we belong in Town!”
All faces turned to me again; I said, “No, Caroline, you belong in Town; the rest of us belong in the country.”
She was shocked speechless and just stared at me, so I continued. “I understand that you have a dowry of twenty thousand pounds, In the four percents, that is eight hundred pounds a year, which is certainly enough to maintain a townhouse in London.”
She turned white and began to stutter that she could not live alone! She looked at Louisa to get that lady’s support, but Louisa stared at her plate and would not meet her sister’s eyes!
And then I thought that you would offer her a way out!
So I said, “And it would be a shame, truly, Caroline, because I have observed that ladies who play the piano perform plain sewing faster than anyone! Why, Mary would astound all us girls as to how rapidly she could sew a garment, simply because her fingers were trained to move quickly. I have no doubt that you, with your London training, would be an example to the neighbourhood in that regard!”
Then she stammered out that she did not doubt that she would excel at such a thing!
I agreed, and said, “I have not the slightest doubt of it. I have seen you play, and I have never seen fingers fly over the keyboard as rapidly as yours. And Mary even remarked upon what a prodigy you must be with a needle! You are accustomed to fancy work, I know, but plain sewing requires a good deal more speed and concentration. I pray that you will make an attempt. And, if it does not suit you? Well, there is always that eight hundred pounds to live on in Town, is there not?”
And at this, Caroline completely gave in and said, “Of course, I would be happy – most happy indeed – to assist you with the plain sewing for the tenants! It is only right, if I to live with all of you on the estate.”
There! Are you not astonished at my boldness?
I admit that I am everything proud of myself for having managed her so well, though I confess that I had rather hoped she would leap at the chance to take her dowry and leave us all.
Charles congratulated me later that night at how well I had managed; I did not tell him that I was pretending to be Elizabeth throughout the conversation!
Tell me how things are at Pemberley. Is it as lovely a home as Aunt Madeleine says? Are you able to find your way around yet, or must there be a footman to follow you about so that you do not get lost?
I miss you dreadfully and am counting the days until we join you at Pemberley!
All my love,
Jane
P.S. I apologise for the length of this letter, but I know you well able to manage the expense and just had to tell you every detail!
Elizabeth turned to Georgiana and said, “There; you see how lucky I am? Jane has Caroline Bingley, while I have you, dearest Georgiana!” The two smiled at one another, and Mr. Darcy felt his heart swell, once again, with love and gratitude at the special relationship that had been formed between the two most important ladies in his life.
There was also a letter from Mrs. Bennet; Elizabeth opened that next.
Dear Lizzy,
I know you told me not to visit Jane every day, but it is so difficult not to!
I want so very much to see my beautiful Jane as mistress of the largest estate in Meryton, if not all of Hertfordshire!
And you know that the second drawing room needs redecorating very badly, and she truly ought to take some advice from me, for have I not redecorated more drawing rooms in my life than Jane?
But I will do my best, as I do understand that newlyweds in particular need time away from their parents!
I swear that Mr. Bennet will drive me quite mad with his talk of account books!
I have always kept track of the household accounts, at least as much as I was able, but now he insists that I have been doing it all wrong, and I am to do it very differently, tracking every single expense, no matter how small!
I blame your husband for this, Lizzy, I truly do, for until he came to teach Mr. Bennet about estate management, there was nothing whatever wrong with my accounts.
Kitty and Lydia are incorrigible; now that they have seen how your Miss de Bourgh spends her money, nothing will do until they, too, have a reticule full of coins!
How we are ever to manage that, even with Mr. Bingley’s three thousand pounds, I cannot say.
Your father has not yet given the girls their pin money, nor me mine, as he says that all debts must be paid first.
It is everything unreasonable, Lizzy, and I beg that you will write to your father and tell him so!
Your loving mother
Elizabeth read this aloud as well; Mr. Darcy raised a brow and said, “Well, good for Mr. Bennet! Anything else?”
“Yes; one from Anne.” Elizabeth opened it and read.
Dear Lizzy, or do I now call you Mrs. Darcy?
London has been everything wonderful! I have the most beautiful new gowns you can imagine, and bonnets and slippers and fans, and everything wonderful!
I wish Kitty and Lydia could be here with me, we would have the most fun imaginable shopping together!
I should have kept that three thousand pounds from Mama’s safe, it would have bought your two sisters beautiful things!
I told you that Aunt hired a dancing master for me, did I not?
Well, it turns out that I am not as clumsy as I always thought.
Monsieur DuBois says that I have simply not been taught, and that if I follow his instructions, I shall never be embarrassed on a dance floor.
I am, as you may imagine, following his instructions quite closely!
In fact, we are to go to a private ball in just two days’ time! Aunt says this is ideal, as I will be able to dance without the entire ton watching me.
I have been writing to Mama most faithfully, telling her all the good things that are happening here in London, and she says she is happy for me.
I do not know if that is true or not, but it is good of her to say so.
I did mean it when I said that I would always return to Rosings Park, for it is my own estate, and should I not live on my own estate?
I asked Aunt what would happen if I married a man who already had an estate, for which one would we live on?
She says not to worry about that just yet, so I suppose I shall not.
Your dear and loving friend,
Anne
P.S. Oh! I must tell you that everyone here is very excited about coming to Pemberley this summer! I am to come with the Matlocks, and I do hope Kitty and Lydia will be there as well!
P.P.S. Do tell Georgiana that I send my love! Perhaps she and I can have a Season together; would that not be everything delightful??
Elizabeth could scarce finish reading the letter, as the three of them were laughing so hard that their sides hurt.
“She is a different creature entirely from the Anne de Bourgh that I knew,” Mr. Darcy said, at last. “I do not doubt that she will be a sensation in the ton.”